On Friday, violent clashes erupted, spurred by inciting rhetoric from the Palestinian Authority, between the Israeli police and thousands of protesters in Jerusalem following the controversy over the installation of metal detectors at the entrances to Temple Mount.

The upgraded Israeli security measures were not introduced in a vacuum, but were a direct response to the deadly terrorist attack carried out by three Arab Israelis just outside the compound on July 14 in which two Israeli officers were killed, using guns smuggled into the Al-Aqsa mosque.

While searching the area after the lethal shooting, authorities reportedly found a stockpile of weapons, including knives, slingshots, cudgels, spikes, inciting material, unexploded munitions, stun grenades, and binoculars.

The decision to install metal detectors was met with opposition by the Palestinians and parts of the Muslim World, who have accused Israel of upsetting the status-quo. However, at all of the four entrances to the Western Wall Plaza, visitors are required to walk through a metal detector and place their bags in an x-ray machine to ensure that they are not carrying any weapons.

The Temple Mount has long been used as a place and subject of incitement against Jews by officials and hate preachers. President Abbas promised not to allow Jews' "filthy feet" on Temple Mount. A teacher at the Al-Aqsa Mosque school described Jews who visit the area "monkeys and pigs." And numerous hate preachers have called “to annihilate the Jews” and implored their followers to “slaughter Jews.”

Two United States senators pushed back on Thursday, against charges made by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that a bill designed to fight boycotts of Israel violates the Constitution.

Contrary to charges raised by ACLU National Political Director Faiz Shakir, the Israel Anti-Boycott Act does not “punish U.S. persons based solely on their expressed political beliefs," Sen. Ben Cardin (D - Md.), chief sponsor of the legislation, and Sen. Rob Portman (R - Ohio) observed in an open letter.

The senators explained that the bill only expands an existing law against complying with a boycott of an American ally at the behest of a foreign government, namely by also restricting participation in such boycotts if they are imposed by international governmental organizations, such as the United Nations.

While the ACLU letter falsely charged that the bill "would impose civil and criminal punishment on individuals solely because of their political beliefs about Israel and its policies," in truth, the "bill does not prevent U.S. companies and individuals from expressing their points of view, speaking in favor of boycott, divestment, or sanctions (BDS) activities, engaging in boycott activity of their own accord, or being critical of Israel," Cardin and Portman wrote.

“Any suggestion that this bill creates potential criminal or civil liability for these actions is false,” they added.

The ACLU's misleading criticism of the legislation comes shortly after the director of its Human Rights Program, Jamil Dakwar, accused Israel's government of exploiting anti-Semitism

Palestinians Can Sue PA for Torture, Israeli Court Rules

An Israeli court ruled on Wednesday that 51 Palestinians have grounds to sue the Palestinian Authority for torture they suffered while in PA custody, The Jerusalem Postreported.

The Jerusalem District Court said in a 1,860-page ruling that the plaintiffs could sue the PA in Israeli courts, noting that they had been tortured for helping Israeli authorities thwart terror attacks, something that the PA was obligated to do.

The PA countered the charges with a number of arguments, both denying that its officials tortured the plaintiffs and arguing that they had a right to pressure detainees who posed a risk to national security. They also argued that Israel's judiciary did not have jurisdiction over the plaintiffs, who are PA citizens, and argued that international law---not Israeli personal-injury law---should govern the cases.

"Notably," the Post reported, "the court said if Palestinians were cooperating with Israel to thwart terrorist attacks on Israelis, that the PA was also obligated to assist in such efforts under the Oslo Accords." Given these obligations, the PA could not treat the plaintiffs as criminals or torture them.

The court also found that some of the plaintiffs were arrested even though they were located within the Green Line or had Israeli citizenship. In both cases, the PA had no jurisdiction over them.

The news of the PA's mistreatment of Palestinians who helped Israel thwart terrorist attacks comes amid reports that the PA increased its payments in 2017 to Palestinians who attack Israelis.

Israel, Brazil Look to Boost Economic Cooperation

The Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry, Eli Cohen, met earlier this month with Marcos Pereira, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Services of Brazil, the world’s seventh largest economy to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries.

Pereira made his official debut visit with a delegation of 15 senior government officials.

“Markets in Latin America and Brazil tend to be particularly challenging for Israeli companies, but have high potential for cooperation. The Israel-MERCOSUL Free Trade Area Agreement positions Israel as the only non-Latin American country which benefits from preferential access to the Brazilian market. This is an important instrument for Israeli companies, along with the desire of both countries to bolster cooperation,” said Cohen.

Following the Israeli government’s decision from 2014, intended to promote and expand economic ties between Israel and Latin America, the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry has been investing significant efforts helping Israeli companies penetrate this market. New Israeli trade missions were established in Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, Lima and Santiago.